The Rev. Randy Knutson
Sunday, February 15, 2015
The Last Sunday after Epiphany – 8:00 a.m. Service
This has the Gospel reading then the sermon on the audio
Listen to this…Sermon 2015 02 15 RK

The Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Tabor!
How I wish I could share what we experienced there last January, thirteen month ago on our Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Mt. Tabor was our first stop, it was our first Eucharist together outdoors as a group, so it made a great impression on me. I can say that the basilica, the church built on this mountain in the 1920s has shaped my thoughts about the Transfiguration and a theology of what it could be about.
First, I enjoy every year this Transfiguration text as it functions as a conclusion to our season of light, of the revelation of light: Epiphany. Transfiguration has its own feast day on August 6, so I have been corrected more than once, especially in seminary, of calling this Transfiguration Sunday. In truth, it is NOT that! We only read the transfiguration account on this Sunday. So why on earth would I make that mistake? As I was saying, it concludes the flexible season of Epiphany appropriately, a season when we are focused on the revealing of Jesus to the world and focusing again and again on the Light of Christ! So this passage in which Jesus garments glow brighter that any earthly bleach could make them glow makes sense. We conclude the season of brightness with a glimpse of the eternal brightness of Christ.
More than that, however, this passage is wisely put here to function as it does most clearly in Mark, as a midway point, a hinge in this Gospel. Notice we are on chapter 9 in a Gospel that is 16 chapters long; just past the mid point. Before this, Jesus has done most of his teaching, healing, preaching; traveling throughout Galilee. Here he takes Peter, James and John up to the mountain for some time away from this ministry and they have this trans-formative experience. After it happens, they then descend the mountain, destined for Jerusalem, for the death and then resurrection of Jesus and he clearly points this all out to them as they descend the mountain. He also invokes them to tell no one about their experience until after his death and resurrection. After that, the Transfiguration and all that has happened will make sense to them; and it does. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they move from broken followers of a Rabbi of Nazareth to a force of God’s Goodness and Grace throughout the known world. So this Transfiguration, this moment will inspire them, enlighten them and prepare them for the journey ahead, a journey leading to things they cannot know are coming, but we do! For us, they lead us to Lent and to events we will celebrate together known as Holy Week and Easter. I think of all the readings of this story in the life of the church, in the Liturgical Year, this one from Mark fits so perfectly because it functions in that same way in the Gospel itself!Continue reading →

The next has been changed to March 26. We are meeting twice a month on Thursday’s from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to gather with this group which practices a period of silence twenty minutes) followed by a guided conversation on prayer and the spiritual journey. It is facilitated by Elaine Breckenridge.

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A fundraiser for Foyer Notre Dame in Haiti will be held in a Cookies and Kisses fundraiser on Sunday, February 8. Treats will be for sale following both services. This year it will be a bit different, so come and check it out! Cookies will be $5 for a baker’s dozen and $10 for a basket. We also want to thank Jim Elwood for the many years he supplied all the cookie dough for our use in this fundraiser.

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Soul Kitchen Dinner

The Soul Kitchen Dinner shares a simple, nutritious meal and fellowship with anyone who comes through our door. It is our hope that the parish will join us the last Friday of each month for food and fellowship.